Fishing in Vancouver Island

1. Campbell River (Pink Salmon)

Campbell River

Campbell River is known as the "Salmon Capital of the World." The river offers excellent Chinook, coho, and pink salmon fishing. The Tyee Club has been based here since 1924.

2. Port Alberni (Stamp River)

Port Alberni

The Stamp River and Somass River offer world-class Chinook and steelhead fishing. The rivers drain into Barkley Sound, one of BC's premier salmon fishing areas.

3. Sooke (Salmon & Halibut)

Sooke

Sooke offers excellent saltwater fishing for Chinook salmon, coho, and halibut. The Sooke Harbour and offshore waters are productive year-round.

4. Victoria Harbour & Area (Halibut, Salmon)

Victoria

Victoria offers saltwater salmon and halibut fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Oak Bay and Haro Strait areas are productive.

5. Cowichan River (Steelhead)

Cowichan Valley

The Cowichan River is one of Vancouver Island's premier steelhead streams. The river also hosts excellent salmon runs and cutthroat trout fishing.

6. Gold River (Muchalat)

Gold River

The Gold River and Muchalat River offer excellent Chinook and coho salmon fishing on the island's west coast.

7. Nimpkish River (Eel, Steelhead)

North Vancouver Island

The Nimpkish River on northern Vancouver Island offers excellent salmon and steelhead fishing in a remote wilderness setting.

8. Englishman River (Cutthroat Trout, Eel, Steelhead)

Parksville area

The Englishman River offers steelhead, salmon, and cutthroat trout fishing near Parksville and the island's east coast.

9. Qualicum River (Eel, Steelhead)

Qualicum Beach

The Qualicum River offers good salmon and steelhead fishing on Vancouver Island's east coast.

10. Butchart Gardens Area (Arctic Char)

Brentwood Bay

The waters near Brentwood Bay offer salmon and bottom fish fishing in a scenic setting near Butchart Gardens.

11. Port Renfrew (San Juan River)

Port Renfrew

The San Juan River near Port Renfrew offers excellent steelhead and salmon fishing on the island's southwest coast.

12. Nitinaht River (Eel, Steelhead)

Nitinaht Lake area

The Nitinaht River system offers salmon and steelhead fishing on the island's west coast. Nitinaht Lake also offers excellent fishing.

13. Great Central Lake (Rainbow Trout)

Port Alberni

Great Central Lake offers rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing in a large lake setting. The lake is the source of the Stamp River system.

14. Sproat Lake (Rainbow Trout)

Port Alberni

Sproat Lake offers rainbow trout and kokanee fishing near Port Alberni. The lake's warm waters also support bass.

15. Cowichan Lake (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)

Cowichan Valley

Cowichan Lake offers rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and kokanee fishing in the Cowichan Valley.

16. Strait of Juan de Fuca (Halibut, Salmon)

Victoria to Sooke

The Strait of Juan de Fuca offers excellent salmon and halibut fishing along Vancouver Island's south coast. Chinook and coho are abundant from May through September.

17. Bamfield (Barkley Sound)

Bamfield

Bamfield offers world-class Chinook salmon and halibut fishing in Barkley Sound. The remote fishing village is a popular destination for saltwater anglers.

18. Tofino (Salmon & Halibut)

Tofino

Tofino offers excellent salmon and halibut fishing in Clayoquot Sound. The area is also famous for its surf beaches and storm watching.

19. Ucluelet (Broken Group)

Ucluelet

Ucluelet offers access to the Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound, one of BC's premier saltwater fishing destinations for salmon and halibut.

20. Port Hardy (Halibut)

Northern Vancouver Island

Port Hardy offers saltwater fishing for Chinook, coho, and halibut. The area is the gateway to Cape Scott and the north coast.

21. Telegraph Cove (Halibut, Salmon)

Northern Vancouver Island

Telegraph Cove offers excellent salmon and halibut fishing in Johnstone Strait. The historic boardwalk village is a popular destination.

22. Sayward (Kelsey Bay)

East coast

The Sayward area offers salmon fishing in Johnstone Strait and the Salmon River system for steelhead and salmon.

23. Campbell River (Tyee Pool)

Campbell River

The Tyee Pool at Campbell River is the historic site of the Tyee Club, where anglers fish for giant Chinook salmon from rowboats.

24. Quadra Island (Halibut, Salmon, Trout)

Near Campbell River

Quadra Island offers excellent saltwater fishing for salmon and halibut in Discovery Passage. The island also has several productive trout lakes.

25. Cortes Island (Rainbow Trout)

Northern Strait of Georgia

Cortes Island offers salmon and bottom fish fishing in the northern Strait of Georgia. The island's lakes offer rainbow trout.

26. Hornby Island (Salmon)

Strait of Georgia

Hornby Island offers salmon fishing in the Strait of Georgia. The waters around the island are productive for Chinook and coho.

27. Comox (Salmon Fishing)

Comox

Comox offers excellent salmon fishing in the Strait of Georgia. The Comox Harbour and nearby waters are productive for Chinook and coho.

28. Puntledge River (Eel, Steelhead)

Comox Valley

The Puntledge River offers excellent salmon and steelhead fishing in the Comox Valley. The river is known for its fall Chinook run.

29. Oyster River (Eel, Steelhead)

North of Courtenay

The Oyster River offers salmon and steelhead fishing on Vancouver Island's east coast.

30. Nanaimo Harbour (Salmon)

Nanaimo

Nanaimo Harbour offers excellent saltwater salmon fishing in the Strait of Georgia. Departure Bay and Newcastle Island are productive spots.

31. Nanaimo River (Cutthroat Trout, Eel, Steelhead)

Nanaimo

The Nanaimo River offers steelhead, salmon, and cutthroat trout fishing in southern Vancouver Island.

32. French Creek (Eel, Steelhead)

Parksville area

French Creek offers salmon and steelhead fishing on Vancouver Island's east coast near Parksville.

33. Little Qualicum River (Eel, Steelhead)

Qualicum Beach

The Little Qualicum River offers steelhead and salmon fishing near Qualicum Beach.

34. Cowichan Bay (Salmon)

Cowichan Bay

Cowichan Bay offers saltwater fishing for salmon and bottom fish at the mouth of the Cowichan River.

35. Shawnigan Lake (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)

Shawnigan Lake

Shawnigan Lake offers rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and bass fishing in the Cowichan Valley.

36. Eagle River (Eel, Steelhead)

Sayward area

The Eagle River offers steelhead and salmon fishing on the east coast of Vancouver Island.

37. Tsitika River (Eel, Steelhead)

Robson Bight area

The Tsitika River offers remote steelhead and salmon fishing in a wilderness setting on northern Vancouver Island.

38. Nitinat Lake (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)

West coast

Nitinat Lake offers rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and salmon fishing on Vancouver Island's west coast.

39. Kennedy Lake (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)

Tofino area

Kennedy Lake offers rainbow trout and cutthroat trout fishing near Tofino on the west coast.

40. Upper Campbell Lake (Rainbow Trout)

Strathcona Park

Upper Campbell Lake offers rainbow trout and kokanee fishing in Strathcona Provincial Park.

41. Buttle Lake (Rainbow Trout)

Strathcona Park

Buttle Lake offers rainbow trout and Dolly Varden fishing in Strathcona Provincial Park.

42. Elk Lake (Rainbow Trout)

Victoria area

Elk Lake offers rainbow trout and bass fishing in the Victoria region. The lake is popular for family fishing.

43. Thetis Lake (Rainbow Trout)

Victoria area

Thetis Lake offers rainbow trout fishing in a popular Victoria-area recreation lake.

44. Durrance Lake (Rainbow Trout)

Victoria area

Durrance Lake offers rainbow trout fishing in a beautiful forested setting near Victoria.

45. Prospect Lake (Rainbow Trout)

Victoria area

Prospect Lake offers rainbow trout and bass fishing in the Saanich Peninsula.

46. Goldstream River (Salmon)

Goldstream Park

Goldstream River offers fall salmon viewing and fishing in Goldstream Provincial Park near Victoria.

47. Race Rocks (Saltwater)

Victoria area

Race Rocks Ecological Reserve offers excellent saltwater fishing for Chinook salmon and halibut. The nutrient-rich waters attract abundant marine life.

48. Pedder Bay (Saltwater)

Victoria area

Pedder Bay offers protected saltwater fishing for salmon and bottom fish near Victoria. The bay is a popular kayak fishing spot.

49. Esquimalt Lagoon (Saltwater)

Colwood

Esquimalt Lagoon offers saltwater fishing for cutthroat trout and salmon in a protected lagoon setting near Victoria.

50. Sidney Pier (Saltwater)

Sidney

The Sidney Pier offers saltwater fishing for salmon and bottom fish in the Haro Strait. The pier is a popular shore fishing spot.

51. Swartz Bay (Saltwater)

Sidney area

Swartz Bay offers saltwater fishing for salmon in the Haro Strait near the BC Ferries terminal.

52. Pender Island (Saltwater)

Southern Gulf Islands

Pender Island offers excellent saltwater fishing for salmon and halibut in the Gulf Islands. The island has several productive fishing spots.

53. Saturna Island (Saltwater)

Southern Gulf Islands

Saturna Island offers remote saltwater fishing for salmon in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

54. Gabriola Island (Saltwater)

Nanaimo area

Gabriola Island offers saltwater fishing for salmon and bottom fish in the Strait of Georgia.

55. Deep Bay (Saltwater)

Bowser area

Deep Bay offers saltwater fishing for salmon and bottom fish on Vancouver Island's east coast.

56. Fanny Bay (Saltwater)

Fanny Bay area

Fanny Bay offers saltwater fishing for salmon and is famous for its oyster beds.

57. Denman Island (Saltwater)

Denman Island

Denman Island offers saltwater fishing for salmon and bottom fish in the Strait of Georgia.

58. Campbell River (Pier Fishing - Saltwater) (Saltwater)

Campbell River

The Campbell River waterfront offers pier and shore fishing for salmon in saltwater. The Tyee area is particularly productive.

59. Royston (Saltwater)

Royston area

Royston offers saltwater fishing for salmon and bottom fish on Vancouver Island's east coast.

60. Union Bay (Saltwater)

Union Bay area

Union Bay offers saltwater fishing for salmon in the Strait of Georgia.

61. Port McNeill (Saltwater)

Port McNeill

Port McNeill offers saltwater fishing for salmon and halibut in Queen Charlotte Strait.

62. Port Alice (Saltwater)

Port Alice

Port Alice offers saltwater fishing for salmon in the Neroutsos Inlet on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

63. Kyuoquot (Saltwater)

Kyuoquot area

Kyuoquot Sound offers remote saltwater fishing for salmon and halibut on Vancouver Island's west coast.

64. Winter Harbour (Saltwater)

Winter Harbour

Winter Harbour offers remote saltwater fishing for salmon and halibut on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island.

65. Quatsino Sound (Saltwater)

Quatsino area

Quatsino Sound offers excellent saltwater fishing for salmon and halibut on northern Vancouver Island's west coast.

66. Nootka Sound (Saltwater)

Nootka Island area

Nootka Sound offers world-class saltwater fishing for Chinook salmon and halibut. The historic sound is a legendary fishing destination.